Apparatus of Fabricating Iodine-Based-Antimicrobial Colored Fabrics

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided to make fabrics. The fabrics are iodine-based-antimicrobial, odor-absorbing and colored. A pigment, an antimicrobial agent, a dispersant and a related polymer substrate carrier are bond to obtain iodine-based-antimicrobial colored masterbatches. The antimicrobial agent contains an iodine-containing compound and zinc oxide. The masterbatches are spun into yarns for making fabrics with the pigment and the antimicrobial agent uniformly mixed. Thus, the present invention significantly reduces waste water pollution from dyeing and processing and avoids skin allergies.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fabricating fabrics; more particularly, relates to uniformly mixing a pigment and an antimicrobial agent into yarns to fabricate iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabrics for significantly reducing waste water pollution from dyeing and processing and avoiding skin allergies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Fabrics made of antimicrobial fiber yarns can prevent skin diseases with antibacterial, antiseptic, deodorant and anti-mildew functions in a very comfortable wear. For providing the antimicrobial function in the yarns, an antimicrobial agent can be mixed into solution for spinning; pores can be narrowed; physical and/or chemical characteristics can be modified; fibers mixed for making fabrics can be changed; or, methods for dyeing and coating can be refined. Therein, the most common choice is to mix an antimicrobial agent into solution for spinning, where silver-based antimicrobial agent is the most commonly used. However, silver element contained in the silver-based antimicrobial agent can cause skin irritation, tissue damage and other issues. Hence, the prior art does not fulfill all users' requests on actual use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for binding a pigment, an antimicrobial agent (comprising an iodine-containing compound and zinc oxide), a dispersant and a related polymer substrate carrier to fabricate iodine-based-antimicrobial colored masterbatches; and spinning the masterbatches into yarns for uniformly mixing the pigment and the antimicrobial agent into fabric to fabricate iodine-based-antimicrobial odor-absorbing colored fabrics, where waste water pollution from dyeing and processing is significantly reduced and skin allergies are avoided.

To achieve the above purpose, the present invention is an apparatus of fabricating iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabrics, comprising a masterbatch generator, a plurality of masterbatches, a drying device, a yarn spinner, a first fabric generator and a second fabric generator, where the masterbatch generator melt-kneads a raw material to be extruded into masterbatches through cooling and granulating; the masterbatches are fabricated from the masterbatch generator; the masterbatches are iodine-based-antimicrobial and colored; the drying device is connected to the masterbatch generator; the drying device hot-dries the masterbatches to form a plurality of dried masterbatches; the yarn spinner is connected to the drying device to fabricate yarns by spinning; the yarns are iodine-based-antimicrobial, odor-absorbing and colored; the first fabric generator is connected to the yarn spinner to fabricate an iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabric, like a knitted fabric, a woven fabric or a plush fabric; and the second fabric generator is connected to the drying device to fabricate an iodine-based-antimicrobial colored non-woven fabric. Accordingly, a novel apparatus of fabricating iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabrics is obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which

FIG. 1 is the view showing the preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description of the preferred embodiment is provided to understand the features and the structures of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a view showing a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in the FIGURE, the present invention is an apparatus of fabricating iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabrics, comprising a masterbatch generator 1, a drying device 2, a yarn spinner 3, a first fabric generator 4 and a second fabric generator 5.

The masterbatch generator 1 comprises a mixing unit 11; a high-speed powder kneading device 12 communicated with the mixing unit 11; a driving unit 13 located at a side of and connected to the powder kneading device 12; a cooling tank 14 located at another side of and connected to the powder kneading device 12; a granulator 15 located at a side of and connected to the cooling tank 14; and a collecting trough 16 located at another side of and connected to the cooling tank 14. The masterbatch generator 1 processes kneading and melt-blowing to a raw material; and, after being melted and kneaded, the raw material is extruded to fabricate a plurality of iodine-based-antimicrobial colored masterbatches 6 a through cooling and granulating.

The drying device 2 is connected to the collecting trough 16 of the masterbatch generator 1 to hot-dry the masterbatches 6 a for forming a plurality of dried masterbatches 6.

The yarn spinner 3 is connected to the drying device 2 and comprises a yarn-making device 31; a winding device 32 corresponding to the yarn-making device 31 at an end; and a plurality of rollers 33 located between the yarn-making device 31 and the winding device 32. The yarn spinner 3 fabricates iodine-based-antimicrobial odor-absorbing colored yarns through spinning.

The first fabric generator 4 is connected to the yarn spinner 3 to fabricate an iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabric, such as a knitted fabric, a woven fabric, a plush fabric, etc.

The second fabric generator 5 is connected to the drying device 2 to fabricate an iodine-based-antimicrobial colored non-woven fabric.

Thus, a novel apparatus of fabricating iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabrics is obtained.

Each of the masterbatches 6 comprises 40˜69.5 weight percents (wt %) of a polymer substrate carrier 61; 0.01˜6 wt % of a dispersant 62; 1˜30 wt % of a antimicrobial agent 63; and 1˜30 wt % of a pigment 64. The polymer substrate carrier 61 is made of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), Nylon 6, Nylon 6,12, Nylon 6,6 or a mixture thereof. The antimicrobial agent comprises an iodine-containing compound and zinc oxide and the iodine-containing compound is povidone-iodine.

On fabricating the masterbatches 6, the polymer substrate carrier 61, the dispersant 62, the antimicrobial agent 63 and the pigment 64 are put in the mixing unit 11 of the masterbatch generator 1 to be mixed by a high-speed powder kneading device 12 at a rotational speed of 1000 rotations per minute (RPM)˜3000 RPM for a time of 10˜90 minutes. Thus, the antimicrobial agent 63 is quickly and uniformly dispersed in a polymer-substrate-carrier mixture for forming a polymer-substrate powder having the antimicrobial agent 63 and the pigment 64 uniformly dispersed. Therein, the polymer-substrate powder is kneaded and granulated at a temperature of 220 Celsius degrees (° C.)˜300° C. by a twin-screw kneading device having a screwing speed of 300 RPM˜400 RPM with coordination of the cooling tank 14 and the granulator 15 for fabricating iodine-based-antimicrobial colored masterbatches 6 a having the antimicrobial agent 63 uniformly dispersed. Then, the fabricated iodine-based-antimicrobial colored masterbatches 6 a are collected in the collecting trough 16 to be hot-dried by the drying device 2 at a temperature of 110° C.˜140° for 6˜30 hours for forming the dried masterbatches 6.

On fabricating the iodine-based-antimicrobial colored yarns, 1˜20 wt % of the dried masterbatches 6 are put into the yarn-making device 31 of the yarn spinner 3 to be spun with coordination of spinning nozzle 7 for fabricating the iodine-based-antimicrobial colored yarns 8 a having yarn finenesses of 1˜100 deniers; and, then, the iodine-based-antimicrobial colored yarns 8 a are winded by the winding device 32 through the rollers 33. Furthermore, by using the iodine-based-antimicrobial colored yarns 8 a for fabricating a fabric (i.e. a cloth), an iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabric 8 like a knitted fabric, a woven fabric or a plush fabric is fabricated through the first fabric generator 4.

Or, the second fabric generator 5 can melt-knead the 1˜20 wt % dried masterbatches 6 to fabricate an iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabric non-woven fabric 9.

Hence, the present invention binds a pigment, an antimicrobial agent (comprising an iodine-containing compound and zinc oxide), a dispersant and a related polymer substrate carrier to fabricate iodine-based-antimicrobial colored masterbatches. Then, the masterbatches are spun into yarns for uniformly mixing the pigment and the antimicrobial agent into fabric to fabricate iodine-based-antimicrobial odor-absorbing colored fabrics, where waste water pollution from dyeing and processing is significantly reduced and skin allergies are avoided.

To sum up, the present invention is an apparatus of fabricating iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabrics, where a pigment, an antimicrobial agent, a dispersant and a related polymer substrate carrier are bond to fabricate iodine-based-antimicrobial colored masterbatches; the masterbatches are spun into yarns for uniformly mixing the pigment and the antimicrobial agent into fabric; and, thus, iodine-based-antimicrobial odor-absorbing colored fabrics are fabricated for significantly reducing waste water pollution from dyeing and processing and avoiding skin allergies.

The preferred embodiment herein disclosed is not intended to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, simple modifications or variations belonging to the equivalent of the scope of the claims and the instructions disclosed herein for a patent are all within the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus of fabricating iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabrics, comprising: a masterbatch generator, said masterbatch generator melt-kneading a raw material to be extruded into masterbatches through cooling and granulating; a plurality of masterbatches, said masterbatches being obtained from said masterbatch generator, said masterbatches being iodine-based-antimicrobial and colored; a drying device, said drying device being connected to said masterbatch generator, said drying device hot-drying said masterbatches to obtain a plurality of dried masterbatches; a yarn spinner, said yarn spinner being connected to said drying device to obtain yarns by spinning, said yarns being iodine-based-antimicrobial, odor-absorbing and colored; a first fabric generator, said first fabric generator being connected to said yarn spinner to obtain an iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabric selected from a group consist of a knitted fabric, a woven fabric and a plush fabric; and a second fabric generator, said second fabric generator being connected to said drying device to obtain an iodine-based-antimicrobial colored non-woven fabric.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said masterbatch generator comprises a mixing unit; a high-speed powder kneading device communicated with said mixing unit; a driving unit located at a side of and connected to said powder kneading device; a cooling tank located at another side of and connected to said powder kneading device; a granulator located at a side of and connected to said cooling tank; and a collecting trough located at another side of and connected to said cooling tank, where said driving unit is connected to said collecting trough.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said yarn spinner comprises a yarn-making device; a winding device corresponding to said yarn-making device at an end of said yarn-making device; and a plurality of rollers located between said yarn-making device and said winding device.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said masterbatches comprises 40˜69.5 weight percents (wt %) of a polymer substrate carrier, 0.01˜6 wt % of a dispersant, 1˜30 wt % of an antimicrobial agent and 1˜30 wt % of a pigment.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said polymer substrate carrier is made of a material selected from a group consist of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), Nylon 6, Nylon 6,12 and Nylon 6,6.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said polymer substrate carrier is made of a mixture of said material.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said antimicrobial agent comprises an iodine-containing compound and zinc oxide and said iodine-containing compound is povidone-iodine.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said polymer substrate carrier, said dispersant, said antimicrobial agent and said pigment are mixed by a high-speed powder kneading device so that said antimicrobial agent is quickly and uniformly dispersed in a polymer substrate carrier mixture to obtain a polymer-substrate powder having said antimicrobial agent and said pigment uniformly dispersed.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said high-speed powder kneading device processes kneading at a rotational speed of 1000 rotations per minute (RPM)˜3000 RPM for a time of 10˜90 minutes.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said polymer-substrate powder is kneaded and granulated by a twin-screw kneading device to obtain iodine-based-antimicrobial colored masterbatches having said antimicrobial agent uniformly dispersed
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said twin-screw kneading device is operated at a temperature of 220 Celsius degrees (° C.)˜300° C. with a screwing speed of 300 RPM˜400 RPM.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drying device processes hot-drying to said masterbatches at a temperature of 110° C.˜140° for 6˜30 hours to obtain said dried masterbatches.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said yarn spinner obtains said yarns having 1˜20 wt % of said dried masterbatches added; and said yarns have yarn finenesses of 1˜100 deniers.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first fabric generator obtains said iodine-based-antimicrobial colored fabric having 1˜20 wt % of said dried masterbatches added.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second fabric generator obtains said iodine-based-antimicrobial colored non-woven fabric having 1˜20 wt % of said dried masterbatches added. 